Trailhead Directions

Please print directions to your meeting location before arrival date as there is little to no cell service in Yellowstone.

See map with trailhead locations below text descriptions. Drive times are listed at bottom of page.

Lamar Valley Safari Hike: Lamar River Valley Trailhead

Meet at 8AM at the Lamar River Trailhead (Hiker Trailhead, not Stock Trailhead!)

From Tower Junction: The trailhead is 14.8 miles from Tower Junction (25 minutes). Turn onto Highway 212 at Tower Junction toward Cooke City. After driving through the Lamar Valley you will pass the Lamar River Stock Trailhead. This trailhead is for horse users. There are two latrines at this location. This is your last civilized bathroom location. On the trail there are many “facili-trees”. The hiker trailhead is another 0.25 mile upstream. This large parking lot for the Lamar River Trail has no latrines. If you get out of your vehicle you will see a small footbridge.

From Cooke City: The trailhead is 18.3 miles from Cooke City (30 minutes). It is located approximately 0.5 mile past the small, white Soda Butte thermal formation. You will smell this if you don’t see it! The parking lot for the Lamar River Trail is on the left. There is a small footbridge here if you get out of your vehicle and look. If you arrive at a parking lot with two latrines you have gone too far. This is the Lamar River Stock Trailhead. The hiker trailhead is 0.25 mile back upstream.

Grand Canyon Rim Hike: Upper Falls View Parking Area

Meet at 8AM at the Upper Falls View Parking Area. It is also the parking for Uncle Tom's Trail.

From Canyon Village: The trailhead is 3.4 miles from Canyon Village (8 minutes). From the four-way stop in Canyon Village, go south on Grand Loop Road toward Yellowstone Lake. You will encounter the North Rim Drive. Stay straight. Turn left on SOUTH RIM DRIVE (your next left turn). You will know this is the correct road because there is a massive bridge over the Yellowstone River. You will cross the Yellowstone River on this bridge and proceed 0.7 miles. Turn left into the Upper Falls View Parking Area (also signs for Uncle Tom’s Trail). This is a large parking lot with latrines.

From West Thumb Junction: The trailhead is 34 miles (1 hour and five minutes) from West Thumb Junction if you are coming from the south. Follow the Grand Loop Road (Highway 20) north along the lake and through the Hayden Valley. The turn for the South Rim Drive will be a right hand turn shortly after leaving the valley. If you hit Canyon Village you have gone too far.

Upper Geyser Basin Hike: Biscuit Basin Trailhead

Meet at 8 AM at the Biscuit Basin Trailhead. It is located three miles north of Old Faithful.

From Old Faithful Village: The trailhead is 3 miles from the historic Old Faithful Inn (10 minutes). Go north 2 miles from the overpass near Old Faithful Village. The trailhead parking lot is on the left side of the road. If you find yourself at Fairy Falls trailhead, you’ve gone too far.

From Madison Junction: The trailhead is 14 miles from Madison Junction three-way stop. It takes 20 minutes. Go south from Madison Junction. The trailhead is on the right side of the road 2 and a half miles past the Fairy Falls trailhead. If you see Black Sand Basin on your right, you’ve gone too far (if you are at the overpass to Old Faithful, make yourself a u-turn).

Upper Loop Active Van Tours: West Yellowstone Visitor Information Center

Meet at 6-6:15 AM in front of your lodging location in West Yellowstone, Montana.

If you are staying outside of West Yellowstone, we will meet you at 6:15 AM in front of the flag pole at the West Yellowstone Visitor Education Center.

Note: Entrance fee not included. Parks Pass recommended.

Lower Loop Active Van Tours: West Yellowstone Visitor Information Center

Meet at 7-7:15 AM in front of your lodging location in West Yellowstone, Montana.

If you are staying outside of West Yellowstone, we will meet you at 7:15 AM in front of the flag pole at the West Yellowstone Visitor Education Center.

Note: Entrance fee not included. Parks Pass recommended.

Kayak Yellowstone Lake: Grant Village Marina

Meet at 8 AM at the Grant Village Marina Boat Launch area. Parking is available on Grant Marina Road near the lake shore. About a mile after entering the Grant Village Area, you will turn right just before the Grant Village General Store. The meeting location is two miles from the South Entrance Road and four miles from West Thumb Geyser Basin.

Distances to Hiking Trailheads

Lamar Valley Safari Hike

Lamar River Valley Trailhead:

• Canyon Village………………..1 hour

• Old Faithful Village………………..2 hours 15 minutes

• Lake Yellowstone Village………………..1 hour 25 minutes

• Grant Village………………..1 hour 55 minutes

• Mammoth Hot Springs Village………………..55 minutes

• West Yellowstone, MT………………..2 hours

• Gardiner, MT………………..1 hour 10 minutes

• Cooke City, MT………………..25 minutes

• Big Sky, MT………………..3 hours

• Jackson, WY………………..3 hours 40 mintues

Grand Canyon Rim Hike

Upper Falls View Area off South Rim Drive:

• Canyon Village………………..10 minutes

• Old Faithful Village………………..1 hours 10 minutes

• Lake Yellowstone Village………………..30 minutes

• Grant Village………………..1 hour

• Mammoth Hot Springs Village………………..1 hour

• West Yellowstone, MT………………..1 hour 10 minutes

• Gardiner, MT………………..1 hour 10 minutes

• Cooke City, MT………………..1 hour 30 minutes

• Big Sky, MT………………..2 hours

• Jackson, WY………………..2 hours 30 mintues

Upper Geyser Basin Hike

Biscuit Basin Trailhead:

• Old Faithful Village………………..10 minutes

• Grant Village………………..35 minutes

• Lake Yellowstone Village………………..55 minutes

• West Yellowstone, MT………………..45 minutes

• Canyon Village, WY………………..1 hour

• Mammoth Hot Springs Village………………..1 hour 17 minutes

• Gardiner, MT………………..1 hour 30 minutes

• Big Sky, MT………………..1 hour 40 minutes

• Jackson Hole, WY………………..2 hours 10 minutes

• Cooke City, MT………………..2 hours 40 minutes

Distances to Other Activities

Yellowstone National Park Active Van Tours

Distances to West Yellowstone:

• Big Sky, MT………………..1 hour

• Bozeman, MT………………..1 hour 50 minutes

• Old Faithful Village………………..50 minutes

• Canyon Village………………..1 hour

• Grant Village………………..1 hour 13 minutes

• Mammoth Hot Springs Village………………..1 hour 15 minutes

• Lake Yellowstone Village………………..1 hour 30 minutes

• Jackson, WY………………..2 hours 35 minutes

• Cooke City, MT………………..2 hour 40 minutes

Kayaking Yellowstone Lake

Distances to Grant Village Marina (near the boat launch off Grant Marina Road):

• Grant Village………………..5 minutes

• Lake Yellowstone Village………………..35 minutes

• Old Faithful Village………………..45 minutes

• Canyon Village………………..1 hour

• West Yellowstone, MT………………..1 hour 30 minutes

• Jackson, WY………………..1 hours 45 minutes

• Mammoth Hot Springs Village………………..2 hours

• Gardiner, MT………………..2 hours 15 minutes

• Big Sky, MT………………..2 hours 20 minutes

• Cooke City, MT………………..3 hours